Apparatus and method for testing using dynamometer

Abstract

A test method includes deriving road grade information or wind load information from test schedule torque outputs generated by a dynamometer operatively arranged with a first vehicle, and controlling an accelerator pedal, an accelerator pedal signal, a fuel injector, a manifold pressure, a motor controller, or a throttle valve associated with the first or a second vehicle according to a speed schedule such that the dynamometer, or another dynamometer, programmed with the road grade information or wind load information and operatively arranged with the first or second vehicle applies a load to the first or second vehicle that reflects the road grade information or wind load information.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A test method comprising:
 deriving a road grade profile, corresponding to a real world route, from a difference between (i) data indicative of a total load on a vehicle measured by a dynamometer operatively arranged with the vehicle and (ii) data indicative of a calculated zero-grade load or a zero-grade load applied to the vehicle by the dynamometer; and 
 controlling an accelerator pedal, an accelerator pedal signal, a fuel injector, a manifold pressure, a motor controller, or a throttle valve according to a speed schedule such that a corresponding dynamometer programmed with the road grade profile applies a load. 
 
     
     
       2. The test method of  claim 1  further comprising measuring emissions during the controlling. 
     
     
       3. The test method of  claim 1  further comprising changing a calibration after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the road grade profile applies another load. 
     
     
       4. The test method of  claim 3  further comprising measuring emissions during the again controlling. 
     
     
       5. The test method of  claim 1  further comprising changing ambient conditions after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the road grade profile applies another load. 
     
     
       6. The test method of  claim 1  further comprising changing a component of an emissions control system after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the road grade profile applies another load. 
     
     
       7. The test method of  claim 1  further comprising deriving wind load information, corresponding to the real world route, from a difference between the data indicative of the total load and a combination of (a) the data indicative of the calculated zero-grade load or zero-grade load applied to the vehicle by the dynamometer and (b) data indicative of a load due to actual road grade, and further controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the wind load information further applies another load. 
     
     
       8. A test method comprising:
 deriving wind load information, corresponding to a real world route, from a difference between data indicative of a total load on a vehicle measured by a dynamometer operatively arranged with the vehicle, and a combination of (i) data indicative of a calculated zero-grade load or a zero-grade load applied to the vehicle by the dynamometer, and (ii) data indicative of a load due to actual road grade; and 
 controlling an accelerator pedal, an accelerator pedal signal, a fuel injector, a manifold pressure, a motor controller, or a throttle valve according to a speed schedule such that a corresponding dynamometer programmed with the wind load information applies a load. 
 
     
     
       9. The test method of  claim 8  further comprising measuring emissions during the controlling. 
     
     
       10. The test method of  claim 8  further comprising changing a calibration after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the wind load information applies a load. 
     
     
       11. The test method of  claim 10  further comprising measuring emissions during the again controlling. 
     
     
       12. The test method of  claim 8  further comprising changing ambient conditions after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the wind load applies a load. 
     
     
       13. The test method of  claim 8  further comprising changing a component of an emissions control system after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the wind load information applies a load. 
     
     
       14. A test method comprising:
 deriving dynamometer road load control parameters for a vehicle from a difference between (i) data indicative of a total load on the vehicle measured by a dynamometer operatively arranged with the vehicle and (ii) data indicative of a load due to actual road grade; and 
 controlling an accelerator pedal, an accelerator pedal signal, a fuel injector, a manifold pressure, a motor controller, or a throttle valve according to a speed schedule such that a corresponding dynamometer programmed with the dynamometer road load control parameters applies a load. 
 
     
     
       15. The test method of  claim 14  further comprising measuring emissions during the controlling. 
     
     
       16. The test method of  claim 14  further comprising changing a calibration after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that a corresponding dynamometer programmed with the dynamometer road load control parameters applies a load. 
     
     
       17. The test method of  claim 16  further comprising measuring emissions during the again controlling. 
     
     
       18. The test method of  claim 14  further comprising changing ambient conditions after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the dynamometer road load control parameters applies a load. 
     
     
       19. The test method of  claim 14  further comprising changing a component of an emissions control system after the controlling, and again controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the dynamometer road load control parameters applies a load. 
     
     
       20. The test method of  claim 14  further comprising deriving wind load information from a difference between the data indicative of the total load and a combination of (a) the data indicative of the calculated zero-grade load or zero-grade load applied to the vehicle by the dynamometer and (b) the data indicative of the load due to actual road grade, and further controlling the accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal signal, fuel injector, manifold pressure, motor controller, or throttle valve according to the speed schedule such that the corresponding dynamometer programmed with the wind load information further applies another load.